Page 50 of Mercy & Malice

Warden hoots, “We have a swallower. Can’t. Fucking. Wait.”

I don’t have to look to understand he just finished and is imagining what he’s going to do to me.

Unable to move, I stay in the same position as Judge declares, “Well done.”

Micah grabs my clothes, covering me as Judge continues, “Next reward will have to be greater. After all, every gift should be better than the last. And I’d hate for you to not reap the benefits of the ultimate prize before someone else takes a dabble in your reward.”

The assertion sends utter fear through me. They really aren’t going to stop. It’s going to get worse. This is all a joke to them, and we’re their toys. Maybe Micah is right, because I’d rather be dead than be Warden’s puppet for whenever he wants live porn or literal action.

As soon as the door closes behind them, Micah curses, repeatedly hammering his fist against the metal bars.

I stop behind him when he halts, panting and shaking. “I’m so fucking sorry. I got off when you were forced to suck my fucking dick. How the fuck could I do that?”

“It was a physical reaction to stimulation. Nothing more.”

He rotates to face me. “Even if we get out of here, I’ll be the monster in your head. That’s what this is about.”

I don’t say anything to reassure him, because I’m not sure what we’ll look like when we escape this hell. He won’t be the monster, but there will always be one in the room with us.

26

BROOKE

TWO AND A HALF MONTHS AGO, DARE 12

I’ve barely been able to leave the hospital since my mom arrived last night. Her face is so bruised and swollen that her left eye won’t open fully. She’s been in and out of it while extremely groggy, but she’s still breathing. I didn’t think she was when I found her. The agonizing minutes until the ambulance arrived were the longest ever while I pleaded with her to stay with me. And it wasn’t until the doctor approached me at the hospital hours later that I was finally able to believe she had a chance to make it.

Even now, I’m worried something could happen. That there is something they missed internally and she’ll die. And my father would be the one responsible. He wasn’t home when I got there but managed to arrive just as EMS and police did. He said it appeared to be a break-in gone wrong that she walked in on. And yet he hasn’t been here to check on her, which I’m thankful for. I’d bet my life that he is the party responsible for her being here. And the only thing that scares me more than that detail is if she won’t agree to leave him now. Next time he will kill her. There’s no doubt in my mind. I think his intention this time was to kill her, but he didn’t succeed, luckily.

I am dozing in and out in the chair when I hear a message chime on my phone. Truth if you dare. Meet at the old Belgrave Academy at midnight—Or beg for Mercy.

After it fades, another message appears: Deceiver, be there in the next hour. don’t be late if you want an advantage.

My sight goes straight to my mom. I don’t want to leave her. But I have to finish this now more than ever. The game is almost over. I know there’re thirteen rounds. It’s down to just me, Micah, Ivy, and Luca. Can we get through it without any other loss of life? When is Micah going to find out that I deceived him and hate me for eternity?

Hurrying out, I head straight to the mausoleum, where I know Decider will be waiting.

“Nice of you to show. Tonight’s trial will be truth. It’ll bring life-altering secrets to light.”

My throat constricts as I ask, “I have to confess that I’m the Deceiver?”

“That’s now your decision to make and determine your strategy for the remainder of the game. Each person will drink a mixture that will help allow the truth to be revealed.”

“A truth serum.”

“It’s a drug that will relax the participant enough to confess and not be fully in control of their mind. However, there’s no guarantee how the night will play out.”

I don’t want to drink it. I don’t want to reveal any truths. Not just about being the Deceiver but everything I’m hiding with my father.

“What if I don’t want to reveal any truths?”

“Your team would fail. But you would still advance to the next round. Your teammate would be out of the game and wouldn’t move onto the thirteenth and final round.”

Do we even have a chance in the final round? “What’s the final challenge?”

He hesitates then says, “Sacrifice. One team member will sacrifice the other. There can only be one winner.”

“What?” I replay the sentences in my head, not comprehending it even as I repeat, “One person will have to sacrifice the other to win Mercy.”